author(s)
Maitrayee Dutta

abstract
Certain morphological attributes of tea leaf varieties TV1, TV6 and TV10 were studied to understand their resistance against the red spider mite Oligonychus coffeae Nietner which acts as a decap towards the tea economy of India. Varietal studies revealed that TV1 the resistant variety is highly palatable by the mite in comparison to TV6 and TV10. Life parameters of O. coffeae viz., fecundity showed significant positive correlation with length of leaf axil (r = 0.71169**) and % leaf area damage (r = 0.83574**). Similarly, hatching of O. coffeae also showed significant positive correlation with % leaf area damage (r = 0.69839**).